Fritchle, who made two unsuccessful runs for the Walnut City Council in the early 2000s, said the state needs realistic solutions to address its deficit, including a severance tax for oil drilling.

"(Hagman) is basically walking in lockstep with all the other legislators in his party saying we are not going to let any tax increase on anybody," Fritchle said. "But what he doesn't tell anybody in California is there are really some gross inequities in parts of the tax system."

Political observers don't give Fritchle much hope.

Allan Hoffenblum, a former GOP political consultant and publisher of the "California Target Book," a nonpartisan guide that handicaps the different races, called it a safe Republican seat.

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"(Fritchle) is a social worker who ran for Walnut City Council and came in last of eight candidates with 3 percent of the vote," Hoffenblum said.

The district is 41 percent Republican, 31 percent Democratic and 23 percent no party preference.

Hagman reported campaign contributions of $229,790 and expenditures of $156,482 for the period from Jan. 1 to Sept.30.

Fritchle had not reported contributions or expenditures under the most recent campaign finance reports.